Proposed are a chilling unit, a heat treatment apparatus including same, and a heat treatment method. More particularly, proposed is a technology capable of rapidly and effectively lowering the temperature of a heating plate by bringing a heat exchange medium of a chilling unit into contact with the heating plate and then circulating a refrigerant after performing a heat treatment process of a substrate through a heat treatment apparatus.

A metal oxide barrier and a connecting method for solving the problems in which sectors of an existing cold crucible are connected by means of a mica plate and the mica plate is damaged due to arcing and the like and in which the sectors are strongly connected by means of the mica plate and thus are difficult to replace and maintain. A cold crucible, comprising a metal oxide barrier, according to the present invention can prevent arcing, enables reduction of damage on the edge part of a water cooling sector due to a molten material and thus enhances durability. Moreover, the metal oxide barrier can easily be replaced compared to an existing mica plate and thus enables easy maintenance and repair.

A stave cooler for a furnace that always includes a liquid coolant piping cast inside. A stave cooler body includes a hot face and a backside and a liquid coolant piping cast inside between the hot face and the backside. A single steel collar on the backside of each stave is engineered to support the entire weight of the stave cooler. Any and every external connection of the liquid coolant piping are collected and routed together through the single steel collar. These stave coolers are limited to those mountable only from the inside of steel containment shells provided with a matching penetration. The single steel collar and a cover plate accommodate and provide a gas-tight seal by a continuous welding of the single steel collar to each steel containment shell.

A furnace roller assembly having a fluid-cooled shaft that is covered by an interface performance material comprising both ceramic millboard and a wire brush bristled-material is disclosed. The roller assembly can be used as part of a conveyance system in a finishing mill to support and transport steel sheet through an annealing furnace. The fluid-cooled shaft and the ceramic millboard plus wire brush interface performance material arrangement provide the means to provide effective insulation for the shaft while preventing degradation of the covering on the shaft.

A stave cooler for a furnace that always includes a liquid coolant piping cast inside. A stave cooler body includes a hot face and a backside and a liquid coolant piping cast inside between the hot face and the backside. A single steel collar on the backside of each stave is engineered to support the entire weight of the stave cooler. Any and every external connection of the liquid coolant piping are collected and routed together through the single steel collar. These stave coolers are limited to those mountable only from the inside of steel containment shells provided with a matching penetration. The single steel collar and a cover plate accommodate and provide a gas-tight seal by a continuous welding of the single steel collar to each steel containment shell.

A metallurgical system for producing metals and metal alloys includes a fluid cooled mixing cold hearth having a melting cavity configured to hold a raw material for melting into a molten metal, and a mechanical drive configured to mount and move the mixing cold hearth for mixing the raw material. The system also includes a heat source configured to heat the raw material in the melting cavity, and a heat removal system configured to provide adjustable insulation for the molten metal. The mixing cold hearth can be configured as a removal element of an assembly of interchangeable mixing cold hearths, with each mixing cold hearth of the assembly configured for melting a specific category of raw materials. A process includes the steps of providing the mixing cold hearth, feeding the raw material into the melting cavity, heating the raw material, and moving the mixing cold hearth during the heating step.

A coolant for use in support of a pyrometallurgical furnace includes a circulating rich glycol solution. Substantially all the molecules of any initial weight of water it includes have been physically absorbed by a hygroscopic action into an initial weight of a glycol solvent. Substantially all the molecules of the initial weight of water included are suspended in solution between the molecules of a first portion of the initial weight of glycol solvent due to the hygroscopic action. A substantial remaining second portion of the initial weight of glycol solvent stays available to physically absorb any other water or steam that may later come in contact with the rich glycol solution as it circulates inside a desiccation containment vessel.

A metal oxide barrier and a connecting method for solving the problems in which sectors of an existing cold crucible are connected by means of a mica plate and the mica plate is damaged due to arcing and the like and in which the sectors are strongly connected by means of the mica plate and thus are difficult to replace and maintain. A cold crucible, comprising a metal oxide barrier, according to the present invention can prevent arcing, enables reduction of damage on the edge part of a water cooling sector due to a molten material and thus enhances durability. Moreover, the metal oxide barrier can easily be replaced compared to an existing mica plate and thus enables easy maintenance and repair.

All of a cast-iron or cast-copper stave cooler's weight is supported inside a furnace containment shell by single gas-tight steel collar on the backside. All the coolant piping in each cooler has every external connection collected and routed together through the one steel collar. A wear protection barrier is disposed on the hot face. Such is limited to include at least one of horizontal rows of ribs and channels that retain metal inserts or refractory bricks, or pockets that assist in the retention of castable cement and/or accretions frozen in place from a melt, or an application of an area of hardfacing that is welded on in bead, crosshatch, or weave pattern.

All of a cast-iron or cast-copper stave cooler's weight is supported inside a furnace containment shell by single gas-tight steel collar on the backside. All the coolant piping in each cooler has every external connection collected and routed together through the one steel collar. A wear protection barrier is disposed on the hot face. Such is limited to include at least one of horizontal rows of ribs and channels that retain metal inserts or refractory bricks, or pockets that assist in the retention of castable cement and/or accretions frozen in place from a melt, or an application of an area of hardfacing that is welded on in bead, crosshatch, or weave pattern.